Qualea Aubl. from Paraná State, Brazil

The results from a survey on Qualea Aubl. (Vochysiaceae A. St.-Hil.) in the State of Paraná are presented. The analysis was based on dried material from several regional herbaria as well as fresh material collected in different regions of the State. Four species were registered: Q. cordata Spreng.; Q. glaziovii Warm; Q. grandiflora Mart.; Q. multiflora Mart. spp. multiflora. A key to differentiate the species is presented and for each species, the botanical description, common names, phenology data, the geographic distribution, uses and illustrations are included.


Introduction
Belonging to Vochysiaceae A. St.-Hil., Qualea Aubl. is a neotropical genus with approximately 60 species, restricted to the Central and South Americas, occurring in rain forests as well as in Cerrados (savannas) (LISBOA, 2000).The name Qualea is derived from qualé, the original name used to designate these plants by the Guianas native aborigines (VIANNA; MARTINS, 2001).Popularly known as dedaleira, pau-terra, laba-laba, umirirana and muiraúba-da-várzea, among other names, some species of this genus provide wood for the construction of boats, boxes and houses interior (RECORD; MELL, 1924) as well as are used in folk medicine against stomach ulcer, diarrhea and intestinal colic (GRANDI et al., 1989).
Facing such divergence of information and aiming to update the Qualea Aubl.distribution knowledge, the results from a study on the genus occurrence at Paraná State, Southern Brazil are presented.The research was performed in accordance with the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (ESTRATÉGIA, 2006), which points out the necessity of a continuous updating process of floristic surveys, monitoring biodiversity distribution at country level and respective states.
Considering all the species registered for the State, only Q. glaziovii was detected exclusively in a region characterized by an interface between Ombrophyllous Dense Forest and Araucarian Forest, where the climate is subtropical wet (Mesothermic -Cfb), with average temperature at the hottest month inferior to 22°C and at the coldest month inferior to 18ºC, without dry season, with pleasant summer and frequent heavy frosts at winter (IAPAR, 2000).
The other species were registered in Cerrado (savanna) and surroundings areas, characterized by subtropical wet climate (Mesothermic-Cfa), with average temperature at the hottest month superior to 22ºC and at the coldest month inferior to a 18ºC, without dry season, with hot summer and less frequent frosts at winter (IAPAR, 2000).Q. cordate had the wider register of occurrence, being distributed at the northwest, north and northeast regions of the State.Q. grandiflora and Q. multiflora spp.multiflora were registered only in few areas with Cerrado at the north and northeast regions (Figure 1).
Uses: supplies wood for canoes, crates and carpentry.The bark and fruits are source of tinctorial material (CORRÊA, 1984).Without usage indication at Paraná State.
Geographic distribution: Brasil: MG, MT, RJ, SP, PR and SC.North and center of Paraguay.
Uses: The bark and leaves have medicinal usage; the fruits are source of tinctorial material (yellow) (CORRÊA, 1984).The powder of the bark from the stem is used as antiseptic for external wounds (SIQUEIRA, 1988).The seed possesses exceptional amounts of lauric acid.(MAYWORM; SALATINO, 1996).The leaf extract has depressive action on the nervous central system, analgesic effect and is a potential anti-convulsion medicine (GASPI et al., 2006).The hidro-alchoolic extract of the bark has an important anti-ulcerogenic activity (HIRUMA-LIMA et al., 2006).Without usage indication at Paraná State.Due the beauty of its flowers and tree shape, the species has ornamental potentiality.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Distribuition of Qualea species at Paraná State, being: ♣ = Q.cordate Spreng.;  = Q.glaziovii Warm.;  = Q.grandiflora Mart.and = Q. multiflora Mart.ssp.multiflora.Located at the northeast region of the Paraná State, the macro-geographic region named Vale do Rio das Cinzas includes the biggest and most significant Cerrado area of the State.There, this type of vegetation has being evolved from open grassland, at 730 up to 1,100 m above the sea level, mixing in some points with the Araucarian Forest.It is distributed through the municipalities of Jaguariaíva, Arapoti, Piraí do Sul, Sengés, Telêmaco Borba and Tibagi.In that region, that encompasses the Cerrado State Park (1830.40ha) and the Guartela State Park (798.97 ha, where 5 ha correspond to Cerrado), it was evidenced the greatest diversity of Qualea species, including Q. cordate, Q. grandiflora and Q. multiflora var.multiflora.The last one observed exclusively in this region.The called Cerrados from the Norte Velho correspond to the region historically reported as covered by Cerrado only in some disperse areas between the Municipalities of São Jerônimo da Serra, Conselheiro Mairinck and Ribeirão do Pinhal, all them at the right side of Tibagi river.At present, those Cerrado areas are extremely reduced, due to anthropogenic occupation and agro-forestry activities.Only Q. cordate was registered in this region.The Cerrados from Norte Novo include little more than 40 km 2 , surrounded by Semideciduous Seasonal Forest, in a region between Bandeirantes and Pirapó rivers, near to Maringá city.No Qualea species was detected in that region.
, it was registered in the Cerrado strictu sensus as well as at its border with the Seasonal Semideciduous Forest.Mun.Arapoti, Ventania, Ribeirão do Pinhal and S. Jerônimo da Serra: Seazonal Semideciduous Forest as well as the transition zone to savanna.

Campina Grande do Sul:
Common names: louro-da-serra, louro (PR, SC).Uses: Without usage indication at Paraná State as well as other locations were the species occurs.